Friday, August 15, 2008

It was a cold, rainy night as I headed out of the supermarket on Main Street. Huddled on the street corner was a little boy, sopping wet and shivering. \at the moment, all I really wanted to think about was getting home, getting dry, and crawling into my little bed, but a voice inside told me to stop. I took the little boy inside the supermarket to dry off a bit and bought him some biscuits and juice. I gave him my sweatshirt, a small wooden cross that I carry in my pocket, and some change for his ride home. As he left, he called out, “What is your name?” “Katie,” I responded, “Auntie Katie.” “Me, I am Daniel!” he shouted, and he disappeared into the night. That was almost a year ago.

Today as I walked into the supermarket to buy food for my family, two small brown arms wrapped around me, and a little voice excitedly proclaimed “Auntie Katie!” I turned to see a beaming Daniel. “Wait!” he said. He hurried to the nearest street vendor and bought me a popsicle with the little pocket change he had. He dug into his pocket and pulled out the small wooden cross. “I have never stopped praying for you every day,” he grinned.

I stand amazed at the goodness of our God. That rainy night, I really just wanted to hop on my piki and go home. But I stopped. I only gave him a sweatshirt (I’m sure I have 8 more). I only gave him some cheap biscuits (I can eat biscuits any day I like). I only gave him enough money for his ride home (probably less than the equivalent of 50 cents). But Jesus gave him hope. And he remembered. He didn’t just remember my face, though I’m not sure how he could even see me in the dark; he remembered my name. He prayed for me. He prayed for my safety and for the opportunity to see me again. I blessed him just one cold night, and he blessed me every day after that for this whole year.

10 comments:

mom said...I am so proud that you are allowing the light to fill you and propel you and guide you every choice to be as loving as you possibly can! It is this love and random/radical acts or kindness as small as it may seem that are so important in this hurry up world. I am so proud of you and continue to be in awe of the blessed work you are doing. I love you and can't wait to hug you next Thursday.

mom said...I am so proud that you are allowing the light to fill you and propel you and guide you every choice to be as loving as you possibly can! It is this love and random/radical acts or kindness as small as it may seem that are so important in this hurry up world. I am so proud of you and continue to be in awe of the blessed work you are doing. I love you and can't wait to hug you next Thursday.

Katie! I've been telling all the old ladies at the hospital where i work about you and they LOVE to hear updates abotu your life. Yesurday i told them about Sarah and today i'm going to tell them about Daniel and they are going to pray for you, like they do every day. My dad just called asking for your blog address because his bosses wanted to know more about this 19 year old with 10 kids! I'm spreading the word! Your an inspiration Katie. I love you

Spreading the word here too. . .that the world may pray! My girls in small group were praying for you and Sarah today. Thanks for your sweet blog about Daniel. What a great way to put it that you blessed him once and he blessed you for months. I love that thought. Our God is so good!

Can't wait to talk to you soon. Tell Melissa or anyone else in your house that they better get really good at blogging these sweet children's stories while you are gone!

Katie!!!this is so amazingly beautiful. You really are a light and you are so obviously following the Lord's guidance and his love spills out of you onto those kids. They are blessed to have someone like you so open to love them. Keep strong!